Binding assembly for a printer

Abstract

A binding assembly for a printer includes a support chassis that is mountable to a printer, downstream of a printing zone of the printer. The support chassis defines a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction. An elongate glue applicator is mounted on the chassis and is positioned substantially at right angles to the feed direction. The applicator is displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A binding assembly for a printer, the binding assembly comprising: 
       a support chassis that is mountable to a printer, downstream of a printing zone of the printer, the support chassis defining a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction;  
       an elongate glue applicator mounted on the chassis and positioned substantially at right angles to said feed direction, the applicator being displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media;  
       a collection tray having a back side;  
       an exit hatch positioned below the elongate glue applicator and above the collection tray, the exit hatch movable between a closed position at substantially a right angle to the feed direction, and an open position angled away from the elongate glue applicator, whereby the printed sheets of media are first supported by the exit hatch in the glue application and binding zone and then released downwardly from the glue application and binding zone, moving solely by the force of gravity, by downward movement of the exit hatch; and  
       a flexible foil positioned adjacent the exit hatch and angled away from the elongate glue applicator and toward the exit hatch, whereby the printed sheets of media that are released from the glue application and binding zone by downward movement of the exit hatch are directed to the back side of the collection tray and substantially parallel to the feed direction.  
     
     
       2. A binding assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the glue applicator includes an elongate housing with an application sponge positioned in the housing and a glue supply, the application sponge being in fluid contact with the glue supply so that glue is drawn into the sponge with a capillary action and the application sponge being positioned so that, when the glue applicator moves towards the sheets of media, the application sponge makes contact with the sheets of media to apply the glue to the sheets of media. 
     
     
       3. A binding assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a binding platen assembly mounted to the support chassis, the binding platen assembly being positioned downstream of the glue applicator to receive each sheet of media once the strip of glue has been applied to each sheet and to urge the sheets together so that the glue can act to bind the sheets. 
     
     
       4. A binding assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the binding platen assembly includes a reciprocating platen and a support platen, the reciprocating platen being interposed between the glue applicator and the support platen and being reciprocally displaceable towards and away from the support platen to receive consecutive sheets of media with the glue applied to the sheets and to transfer the sheets on to the support platen such that the reciprocating platen serves to urge the sheets together.